Fluid bearing assembly

Abstract

A bearing assembly including a body defining an outer surface, an inner surface, and an aft surface is generally provided. A first inlet opening is defined through the outer surface in fluid communication with a first internal passage defined by a first internal wall. The first internal passage is in fluid communication with a first outlet opening defined through the inner surface. A second inlet opening is defined through the inner surface in fluid communication with a second internal passage defined by a second internal wall. The second internal passage is in fluid communication with a second outlet opening defined through the aft surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A bearing assembly, the bearing assembly comprising:
 a body defining an outer surface, an inner surface, and an aft surface, wherein a first inlet opening is defined through the outer surface in fluid communication with a first internal passage defined by a first internal wall, and wherein the first internal passage is in fluid communication with a first outlet opening defined through the inner surface, and further wherein a second inlet opening is defined through the inner surface in fluid communication with a second internal passage defined by a second internal wall, and wherein the second internal passage is in fluid communication with a second outlet opening defined through the aft surface. 
 
     
     
       2. The bearing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the inner surface defines a forward sealing surface and an aft sealing surface, and wherein the first outlet opening and the second inlet opening are defined through the inner surface between the forward sealing surface and the aft sealing surface. 
     
     
       3. The bearing assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the second inlet opening is defined through the inner surface within 35% of a distance from the forward sealing surface between the forward sealing surface and the aft sealing surface. 
     
     
       4. The bearing assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the first outlet opening is defined through the inner surface within 35% of a distance from the aft sealing surface between the forward sealing surface and the aft sealing surface. 
     
     
       5. The bearing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the body further defines a forward surface, and wherein a third inlet opening is defined through the forward surface in fluid communication with a third internal passage defined by a third internal wall. 
     
     
       6. The bearing assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the third internal passage is in fluid communication with the second outlet opening defined through the aft surface. 
     
     
       7. The bearing assembly of  claim 5 , wherein a third outlet opening is defined through the aft surface, and further wherein the third internal passage is in fluid communication with the third outlet opening. 
     
     
       8. The bearing assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the third outlet opening is defined through the aft surface in adjacent circumferential arrangement with the second outlet opening. 
     
     
       9. The bearing assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the third outlet opening is defined through the aft surface in adjacent radial arrangement with the second outlet opening. 
     
     
       10. The bearing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the aft surface defines a plurality of the second outlet opening in adjacent circumferential arrangement. 
     
     
       11. The bearing assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the second outlet opening is defined through the aft surface to dispose a flow of fluid along a tangential direction relative to the circumferential arrangement of the plurality of second outlet openings. 
     
     
       12. The bearing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the first internal wall defines a substantially circumferentially extended collector plenum in fluid communication with the first outlet opening. 
     
     
       13. The bearing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second internal wall defining the second internal passage defines a substantially tubular conduit. 
     
     
       14. The bearing assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the inner surface defines a plurality of the second inlet opening in adjacent circumferential arrangement, wherein each second inlet opening is in fluid communication with the second internal passage. 
     
     
       15. A turbo machine, the turbo machine comprising:
 a rotor assembly comprising a shaft and an aft rotor, wherein the shaft defines a forward seal and an aft seal; and 
 a bearing assembly comprising an inner surface circumferentially surrounding the shaft of the rotor assembly, an outer surface radially outward of the inner surface, and an aft surface axially adjacent to the aft rotor, wherein a first inlet opening is defined through the outer surface in fluid communication with a first internal passage defined by a first internal wall, and wherein the first internal passage is in fluid communication with a first outlet opening defined through the inner surface, and further wherein a second inlet opening is defined through the inner surface in fluid communication with a second internal passage defined by a second internal wall, and wherein the second internal passage is in fluid communication with a second outlet opening defined through the aft surface. 
 
     
     
       16. The turbo machine of  claim 15 , wherein the first outlet opening is defined proximate to an aft seal interface, and further wherein the second inlet opening is defined forward of the first outlet opening proximate to a forward seal interface, and further wherein the first outlet opening and the second inlet opening are each defined at a distance between the forward seal interface and the aft seal interface. 
     
     
       17. The turbo machine of  claim 15 , wherein the bearing assembly further defines a third inlet opening through a forward surface, and wherein the third inlet opening is forward of the forward seal interface. 
     
     
       18. The turbo machine of  claim 17 , wherein the third inlet opening is in fluid communication with a third internal passage defined by a third internal wall. 
     
     
       19. The turbo machine of  claim 18 , wherein the third internal passage is in fluid communication with the second outlet opening defined through the aft surface. 
     
     
       20. The turbo machine of  claim 18 , wherein a third outlet opening is defined through the aft surface axially adjacent to the aft rotor of the rotor assembly, wherein the third internal passage is in fluid communication with the third outlet opening.